The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-07-07
The Russian Bloodhound.

lu6 huSSldu DlOOullOuuu.
In crossing the Strand, London, l
lodged the pole of one vehicle just in
time to be struck by the shafts of an
other, and, as the pavement was slip.
perry, l went down, and the vehicle
went over me, breaking my left leg be-
low the knee. An hour later l was in
my bachelor apartments the work of the
surgeon tiuishcd), and feeling that l
ought to be thankful to have come off
with my life. was in for siege of
many weeks, and had some business
which must be attended to by an out
slider. Therefore, after day or two,
sent for Captain Jack Williams, an old
acquaintance. He answered promptly
enough, and we soon made very salts.
factory arrangements. He was bluff,
honest fellow, out of active service, and
having nothing to do, and the only un-
pleasant feature about his friendship was
the fact of hi, owning monster Rus
sian bloodhound. The brute was his
shadow. Where the dog could not 20
the Captain would not go. He refused
all parties and receptions because of the
dog. He refrained from excursions by
land or sea because he would be tenn.
porarily separated from Gar, as he
called the animal. The pair were we'll
known in London, and the captain was
as safe at midnight in the slums as any
other man would be in the Strand at
monday: One glance at the dog was
enough TO show that he was as dam
gcrous as tiger. He made no friends
either among dogs or men, and had
miraculously escaped dozen wcll-laid
traps to bring about his death.
hated Car, aud on two or three oc-
casions had reason to believe that the
feeling was returned. When the Captain
called and found inc laid up, he had
sense enough to know that the presen &c
of the brute might annoy me, and he
therefore shut him up in the servants
room for few minutes. The dog was
usually prompt in obedience. On this
occasion he obcyed in grudging, sulky
manner, and before leaving the room
threatened me so plainly that l became
apprehensive. The Captain agreed that
Car should not enter my sick room
again, and in couple of weeks I had
forgotten all about the incident.
had apartments on the second floor,
three rooms in row, with hall along
the front of the last two. The frs
room was for my servant, man who
had been with me for many years. The
next was the reception room, and the
third my sleeping room. One coming
down the hall could enter at the door OIL
either room. The bedroom and recep-
tion room were connected, but the ser.
wants room was entirely shut off. II
was hot day in August, with all doors
and windows open. l was feeling
pretty smart, although the pain was con
siderable, and couple of my friend:
had just departed, after a brief call,
when Henry, my servant, came in to SEE
what he could do for me. / was fiat or
my back, as you know, with no chanc
to turn over on account of the leg, bu
had him prop mo up with two or three
pillows. / then sent him for ice. HI
had but a fcw steps to 20, and the doors
were left open behind him. He mad
been gone about five minutes when in
walked Capt. Williams Russian blood
hound. ! shouldn't have said walked
on the contrary he came running in,
head up, tongue out, and his eyes as rec
as live Goals. saw him the moment Ii,
entered, and it passed through my brair
like flash that he was mad.
The door leading into the hall wa
open. Twice as the dog circlcd nrounc
the room he seemed on the point of go
ing out, but each time changed hi
mind, whined in an uneasy way. ant
then continued his c:rcling. He die
not look for me, nor at me. 1t was
large room, with the bed against tn
wall, and from the way the brut
bumped against the chairs l believe h
was nearly blind. He had been witt
me two or three minutes when the hal
door was caught by draught of wint
and slowly pulled to. 1t did not quit
shut. The deg noticed the movement
sprang to get OUT, and the result wa
that he pushed the door shut an
snapped the spring lock. The door lead
ing into the reception room was sti
open, but the door from that into tn
hall was shut. The animal rushed int
this room, upset chair and bumpe
the table, and then came back whin
ing, his tail down and his courae
gone, and skunk under my bed. Ths
the dog was suffering with hydrophc
bia there could be no doubt. As
returned from the reception room thel
was foam on his jaws, and he was {
weak he staggered.
Had i been a well man and full
armed my situation would haYs bee